NUNAVUT - Licences for this year's bowhead whale hunt have been signed and hunters in Pond Inlet, Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay are now busy preparing for the 2010 bowhead whale hunt.

Hunters celebrate their catch during the bowhead whale hunt near Wager Bay close to Rankin Inlet in 2009. From left, Greg Sateana, Tommy Makkigak, Tagak Curley, Steven Sateana, Ross Tatty, Peter Kapuk, Qilaq Kapuk, Paul Kanayok, Harry Ittinuar, Arsene Karlik and Carmen Napayok. - photo courtesy of Ross Tatty

"We are looking to start on August 9 tentatively," said Nick Amautinuar, vice-chair of the bowhead whale hunt planning committee with the Kurtairojuark Hunter and Trappers Association in Kugaaruk.

Kugaaruk had the hunt last year in their community but were unsuccessful at catching a whale. Amautinuar said this year the HTA has moved the hunt up from September to improve their chances.

It is anticipated the hunts in Pond Inlet and Repulse Bay will also start at the beginning of August.

In 2009, Rankin Inlet and Cape Dorset were the other two communities to hold bowhead whale hunts. They had to deal with new regulations from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

"Hunters will find it is virtually identical to last year," said Joseph Justus, senior ecosystems and fishery management officer for the Eastern Arctic area with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board announced the total allowable harvest would be three whales per year, for the next five years, starting in 2009. The department issues each community a licence.

The licences will not become effective until a community starts their hunt, said Justus. A fisheries officer from the department will attend each hunt to inspect equipment, ensure the appropriate vessels are used and make sure all regulations are followed.

Communities have been working on their hunt plans with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. These plans have to be approved by the regional wildlife organizations and the DFO.

While the plans will follow the regulations, Gabriel Nirlungayuk said he thinks they contain too much information.

"Inuit do not need to divulge all the information, to us it is a bit ridiculous," said Nirlungayuk, director of wildlife management with NTI in Rankin Inlet. He gave examples such as how many feet of rope were going to be used and how much horsepower boat engines had.

At the same time he said DFO has come a long way and that the conditions they have set out are reasonable.

"It works both ways, for DFO to be satisfied and for the communities to have a successful and safe hunt," he said.

Similar to last year, he and other representatives from NTI will be going to the communities to provide training on how to use penthrite grenades, replacing black powder grenades traditionally used in whale hunts.

Nirlungayuk said the penthrite grenade uses compressed air.

"It is very safe but you should know what you are doing," he said.

He added that deployment of the grenade is very important because if it is accurately fired at the whale's brain, heart or lungs, the animal will be killed very quickly.

In Kugaaruk, Amautinuar said there will be approximately 12 or 14 hunters on six or seven boats. They will venture out 30 to 40 kilometres from the community.

Conducting a bowhead whale hunt is not cheap and the HTA has received funding from other HTAs and HTOs in the Kitikmeot region. He estimates this year's hunt will cost approximately $15,000. The greatest costs incurred are gas and butchering the whale. He said he is waiting for funding that is hopefully coming from the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and NTI.

As far as other preparations go, he said they are still looking for a couple of guns but that things are going smoothly.

Amautinuar said there is some confusion in the community because the bowhead hunt will coincide with the narwhal hunt.

"It is a bit harder to find hunters right now because people are narwhal hunting," he said, but added he is sure they will have enough hunters.

He added that this year more younger people are interested in the hunt which will help carry on the tradition.